Rosemary Ellen Crowe

Rosemary E. Crowe

August 7, 1930 – February 20, 2026

Rosemary E. Crowe passed away on Friday, February 20th with her family by her side. Rosemary was born in Mattoon, Illinois, on August 7, 1930, to the late Frank Fuesting, Sr. and Mary (Link) Fuesting in Mattoon, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Frank (Bud) Fuesting, Jr. and Edward Fuesting.

She is survived by eight children: Ellen (James) Finan, Kevin (Julia) Crowe, Michael Crowe, Maureen (Kevin) Bower, Mary Benkie, Rosemary (Christopher) Rowland, Stephen (Elizabeth) Crowe and Thomas (Tamara) Crowe; twenty-eight grandchildren: Christopher (Anne) Wilmes, Eric (Vanessa) Wilmes, Daniel (Megan) Wilmes, Marta Wilmes, Matthew (Marnie) Crowe, Thomas (Kate) Crowe, Ryan (Haley) Crowe, Mary Ellen Crowe (Jake Wray), Timothy (Sierra) Crowe, Emily Crowe (Phillip Arias), Michael (Leah) Crowe, Nicholas Crowe, Erin (Nathan) Patterson, Megan (Eric) Tannenbaum, Kevin (Mackenzie) Bower, Brooke Benkie, Benjamin (Heather) Rowland, Meredith (Scott) Hurley, Bridget (Benjamin) Heynacher, Elise (Dominik) Romans, Alexander Rowland, Courtney Crowe, Jason Crowe, Kaitlyn Crowe, Chelsey (Cameron) Vens, Gabriella Crowe, Kiersten Crowe, and Madeline (Andrew) McAteer; and 33 great-grandchildren.

Rosemary graduated from Webster College with a BS in Nutritional Science. After a completing a short internship in Cincinnati, she moved to South Bend to work as a dietician at St. Joseph Hospital, where she met her beloved husband, Fred. After her marriage in 1954, she became a homemaker. Her greatest joy was caring for her family and sharing life with Fred.

Rosemary sat on the board of the YMCA and volunteered with her husband as a prison minister at the state penitentiaries in Michigan City and Westville. She also volunteered for Home Management Services and the Christ Child Society.

Rosemary will always be remembered for her dedication to her family. She cherished spending summer weekends with family at their lake cottage in New Buffalo and traveling the world with Fred.

The family is grateful for the loving care and companionship of her caregiver Monica Minor and longtime physician Tom Seasly, MD, as well as the friendship and loving service of her hairdresser Lawrence Bilenki (Beau).

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 1st from 3-5pm with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 4pm at the McGann Hay Funeral Home, 2313 Edison Road, South Bend, IN. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, March 2nd, at 10:30am, with visitation from 9:30-10:30am at St. Joseph Chapel on the campus of Holy Cross College, with Rev. Dan Ponisciak, CSC, officiating. Immediately following, she will be entombed at Cedar Grove Cemetery at Notre Dame.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Christ Child Society, 2366 Miracle Lane, Mishawaka, In, 46545.

McGann Hay Funeral Home has been entrusted to assist the family. To share memories and to leave condolences, please visit www.mcgannhay.com